--- title: "Set Up Azure File Sync: Sync On-Prem Files to Azure" description: "Learn how to set up Azure File Sync from scratch and sync on-prem files to Azure in this step-by-step guide." canonical: "https://adamtheautomator.com/azure-file-sync/" --- # Set Up Azure File Sync: Sync On-Prem Files to Azure > Learn how to set up Azure File Sync from scratch and sync on-prem files to Azure in this step-by-step guide. Source: https://adamtheautomator.com/azure-file-sync/ --- ATA Learning Tap to hide [ ATA Learning ](/) * [Home](/) * [Tutorials](/tutorials/) * [Instructors](/author/) * [Advertising](/advertising/) * [Recommended Resources](/resources/) * [About Adam](/about-adam/) Search for: * [](https://twitter.com/adbertram) * [](https://github.com/Adam-the-Automator) * [](https://www.linkedin.com/company/adam-the-automator-llc) * [](/feed/) ![Set Up Azure File Sync: Sync On-Prem Files to Azure](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/azure-file-sync.png) # Set Up Azure File Sync: Sync On-Prem Files to Azure [![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b8dba698b20c8b4e43d8512e06d1e2125b5e6057944df94ad162a5aa5c873849?s=192&d=mm&r=g)Francisco Navarro](https://adamtheautomator.com/author/francisco/)17 November 20208 min. read Categories: [Cloud](/category/cloud/) Tags:[Microsoft Azure](/tag/microsoft-azure/) Table of Contents * [Prerequisites](#h-prerequisites) * [Creating an Azure File Share](#h-creating-an-azure-file-share) * [Create a File Share Directory](#h-create-a-file-share-directory) * [Configure Azure File Sync](#h-configure-azure-file-sync) * [Creating the Storage Sync Service](#h-creating-the-storage-sync-service) * [Create a Sync Group](#h-create-a-sync-group) * [Installing the Azure File Sync Agent](#h-installing-the-azure-file-sync-agent) * [Setting up the Server Endpoint](#h-setting-up-the-server-endpoint) * [Validating Azure File Sync](#h-validating-azure-file-sync) * [Next Steps](#h-next-steps) In today’s world, enterprise offerings like DropBox, SharePoint Oline, OneDrive for Business and others are common. Not a reader? Watch this related video tutorial! **_Not seeing the video? Make sure your ad blocker is disabled._** Many businesses still rely on good ol’ [Server Message Block (SMB)](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/fileio/microsoft-smb-protocol-and-cifs-protocol-overview?redirectedfrom=MSDN) or Network File System (NFS) to work with files across a network. If so, and your organization is in the cloud, it’s time to learn about how to set up Azure Files and Azure File Sync. With Azure File Sync, you can cache remotely-stored files in [Azure Files shares](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-how-to-create-file-share?tabs=azure-portal) locally or perhaps on an Azure VM. This service allows you not to pull large files across a slow Internet connection perhaps or keep highly-accessed files local for better performance. ## Prerequisites This article will be a hands-on tutorial. If you’d like to follow along, please be sure you have the following items in your environment before starting. * An Azure subscription. If you don’t have one yet, you can [create an account for free](https://azure.microsoft.com/free/?ref=microsoft.com&utm_source=microsoft.com&utm_medium=docs&utm_campaign=visualstudio) * A [Window Server 2019](https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2019?filetype=ISO) machine. There are no strict requirements for this tutorial but the tutorial will be using an Azure VM with 1 vCPU, 8GB of RAM, and two mounted storage volumes; one for the operating system and one to store the synced data. > _Note: Linux and macOS are only supported as SMB or NFS clients and cannot be configured as File Sync servers. You can only register a Windows Server 2012 R2 and later OS._ ## Creating an Azure File Share The Azure Files service consists of Azure File shares. These are like the ol’ SMB shares you’re used to referencing them via a UNC path like _\\\\SRV1\\sharename_. To set up the Azure File Sync service, you must first create an Azure file share that will store data on an Azure storage account. > _This tutorial will be using a file share name of ata-smb._ To create an Azure file share, you must first have a place to store the data the file share will expose via SMB. An Azure file share doesn’t require too many specific configuration items for the storage account so running through [this tutorial](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-account-create?tabs=azure-portal) will get a storage account set up for you. > _This tutorial will be using an Azure storage account name of ataazfilesyncstorage001._ When setting up the storage account, be sure you set these items specifically for storing Azure file share data. Under the **Advanced** tab in the [Azure portal](https://portal.azure.com/#blade/HubsExtension/BrowseResource/resourceType/Microsoft.Storage%2FStorageAccounts): 1. Ensure **Secure Transfer required** is set to **Enabled**. 2. Ensure **Allow Blob public access** is set to **Enabled**. 3. Set Large file shares support for Azure Files to Disabled. ![Storage Account Advanced options](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-83.png) _Storage Account Advanced options_ 4\. Once the Storage account resource is created, go to the storage account you just created. On the Overview page, click on the File shares box as shown below. ![Storage Account creation completed](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-84.png) _Storage Account creation completed_ 5\. Once inside the **File share** page, click the **+** File share button and fill out the blade with a name for the share, the quota, and select a tier. As shown below, this tutorial opted for 100GB of storage and selected the Hot Tier. You may select whatever **Quota** and **Tier** you would like. > _The warmer the tier, the faster the syncing process is but the more expensive._ ![Create New File Share](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-85.png) _Create New File Share_ Once the Azure file share has been created, you should see your file share show up under your storage account like below. ![Azure File share of 100GB Share + Hot Tier completed](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-87.png) _Azure File share of 100GB Share + Hot Tier completed_ ## Create a File Share Directory Now that the file share is created, it’s time to add some directories to it. To do that: Click on your newly-created file share, click **Add Directory** and give the share a name. This tutorial will create three directories called _Azure 101_, _Blogs,_ and _White Papers_. ![Directory creation](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-88.png) _Directory creation_ ## Configure Azure File Sync Multiple components make up the Azure File Sync Service. These components include the Storage Sync Service, the Sync Group, the Azure File Sync agent, and the Registered server. We’re going to configure each of these in this article. > _Note the name of the Azure resource for Azure File Sync service is called storage sync service resource. We will continue with this nomenclature as we proceed._ ### Creating the Storage Sync Service Let’s start with the _storage sync service_. The storage sync service is a required component of Azure Files that contains _[sync groups](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-sync-files-deployment-guide?tabs=azure-portal%2Cproactive-portal#create-a-sync-group-and-a-cloud-endpoint)_ and the [_server endpoints_](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-sync-files-deployment-guide?tabs=azure-portal%2Cproactive-portal#create-a-server-endpoint). 1. In the Azure portal, search for _Azure File Sync. You should_ find it located under the Azure Marketplace as shown below. ![Azure File Sync Service located in the Azure Marketplace](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-89.png) _Azure File Sync Service located in the Azure Marketplace_ 2\. Click on Azure File Sync and provide the necessary details: * **Subscription** (Your Azure subscription) * **Region** (The datacenter location to create the service in. This should be the same region the storage account and Azure Files service is in.) * **Resource Group** (A resource group you’d like to put this service in) * **Storage sync service name** (A name of your choosing) > _IMPORTANT: The Azure file share must be in the same region as the Azure File Sync Service for sync to function._ 3\. Select **Review + create** and then on **Create** to begin creation as shown below. ![Deploy Azure File Sync Wizard](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-91.png) _Deploy Azure File Sync Wizard_ ![Deploy Azure File Sync Wizard Summary](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-92.png) _Deploy Azure File Sync Wizard Summary_ 4\. Now validate the deployment by going to the newly deployed Storage sync resource. You should find the **Storage Sync Service** and **Storage account** are located in the same **Resource group** and same **Region**. ![Newly Deployed Storage sync resource](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-93.png) Newly Deployed Storage sync resource ### Create a Sync Group Now that we have a Storage sync service Resource, move on to configure a _sync group_. A sync group will contain the server endpoints (your file servers) and points to the storage account and file share you created earlier. 1. While on your Azure Files services in the Azure portal, click on **Sync groups**. 2. Provide the necessary details to create the sync group. * **Sync group name** – The tutorial will use _ata\_azurefilesync\_group001._ * **Azure File Share** – This is the file share you created earlier. * **1st Cloud endpoint Subscription** – The tutorial will use **ATA**. * **Storage account** – This is the storage account you created earlier. ![Sync Group Cloud Endpoint setup](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-96.png) _Sync Group Cloud Endpoint setup_ 3\. When the deployment is complete, click into the sync group as shown below. ![Sync Group setup](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-97.png) _Sync Group setup_ 4\. The sync group page displays the number of cloud and server endpoints currently configured. Notice there are no server endpoints listed. That’s the next task on your to-do list! ![Cloud Endpoint and Server Endpoints](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T135443.078-1024x380.png) _Cloud Endpoint and Server Endpoints_ ## Installing the Azure File Sync Agent By now, you’re all set up in Azure. It’s time to go on-prem (or an Azure VM) and install the Azure File Sync agent. The agent is what will communicate with the Azure file share. 1. Login to your Windows Server 2019 instances and open server manager. ![Open Server Manager](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T135544.123.png) Open Server Manager 2\. Disable the [Internet Explorer (IE) Security Configuration](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/browsers/enhanced-security-configuration-faq) to avoid web-related connection issues with the installation of the Azure File Sync agent. ![Disable IE Security setting](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T135623.530.png) Disable IE Security setting 3\. Next, [download the Azure File Sync agent](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=57159) called _StorageSyncAgent\_WS2019.msi_. ![StorageSyncAgent\_WS2019.msi](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T135709.092.png) StorageSyncAgent\_WS2019.msi > You can also _download the Azure File Sync agent from the Registered server section within the Azure File sync service._ 4\. Once the download is complete, launch the Setup wizard. You can safely accept all defaults. 5\. Once the installer wizard finishes, the installer will bring up another setup wizard. This time the setup wizard registers the server to the Azure File Sync service establishing a [trust relationship](https://adamtheautomator.com/the-trust-relationship-between-this-workstation-and-the-primary-domain-failed/ "trust relationship") between your server and the Storage Sync Service. Right after the agent installation has completed, the agent immediately checks for an update or new release. You can move on by clicking OK. ![Set-up Wizard](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T140259.575.png) Set-up Wizard 6\. Next, sign in to your Azure tenant to perform the registration with the Azure File Sync service. To begin, select **Azure Public Cloud** as the **Azure Environment** assuming your Azure subscription is in the public cloud. ![Sign in to Azure Tenant](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T140332.241.png) Sign in to Azure Tenant 7\. You are now prompted for your tenant credentials. Provide your username and password ensuring you use an account with global administrator permissions. 8\. Next, provide all of the details the storage sync service such as your Azure subscription, the resource group to create the storage sync service, and the storage sync service name. ![Server Registration](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T140425.293.png) Server Registration > _Note that each server can only be registered to one Sync Service at a time._ 9\. Once the registration is complete you should receive confirmation of success or failure. Note the wizard also runs a connectivity test against a set of Azure endpoints in the background. ![Confirmation and connectivity test](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T140521.019.png) Confirmation and connectivity test ![Registration confirmation](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T140552.424.png) Registration confirmation ![Azure Endpoint URI that was tested](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T140612.716.png) Azure Endpoint URI that was tested 10\. Head over to the Azure Portal and confirm the Windows Server instance is now a **Registered server**. ![Server is successfully registered](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T140649.253.png) Server is successfully registered ## Setting up the Server Endpoint Your server is now registered with the Azure File Sync service. You must now configure the registered server as a server endpoint. 1. Navigate to the Azure Portal and go to your **Azure File Sync** service again. Click on the sync group you should have created already. 2. Click on **Add server endpoint** as shown below. ![Register as Server Endpoint](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T140749.057.png) Register as Server Endpoint 3\. You should see a registered server comes up as an option. If you’ve been following along with this tutorial, it will be called _Azure-FileSync_. 4\. For the path to store synced files to, provide a location you prefer the Azure File shares to be downloaded to on the Windows Server instance. For this tutorial, that location is _D:\\_. 5\. Keep the [Cloud Tiering](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-sync-cloud-tiering) option disabled as the setting goes beyond the scope of this article. 6\. Keep **Offline Data Transfer** disabled as this is related to Azure Data Box which is outside of the scope for this tutorial. ![Add Server Endpoint](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T140921.958.png) Add Server Endpoint The process might take a couple of minutes to complete. You will notice the endpoint is now displayed and the health status is set to pending. 7\. While the starts, click on the server (shown below as Azure-FileSync). You’ll notice more granular details about the process in the **Server Endpoint Properties** blade. ![Status of Server Endpoint](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T141002.876.png) Status of Server Endpoint > _The cloud endpoint runs a detection job every 24 hours, which means it might take up to 24 hours before files begin to sync._ 8\. Head over to your Windows Server again and open the File Explorer. You’ll notice all of the directories you created in the Azure portal are created as directories on the Windows Server file system. At this point, any files you add to any of these directories will be automatically synchronized to the Azure Files storage account. The same sync will also be performed on all files stored in the Azure Files storage account. ![File Shares](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T141051.976.png) File Shares > _Syncing files down from Azure to your server will take some time. Changes made to the Azure file share by using the Azure portal or SMB are not immediately detected and replicated like changes to the server endpoint._ > > _Azure Files does not yet have change notifications or journaling, so there’s no way to automatically initiate a sync session when files are changed. On Windows Server, Azure File Sync uses Windows USN journaling to automatically initiate a sync session when files change._ You’ll see a directory in the Azure file share called **.SystemShareInformation**. Do NOT modify or delete this folder as it’s critical to Azure File Sync functionality! ![SystemShareInformation Folder](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Untitled-2020-11-16T141352.645.png) SystemShareInformation Folder ## Validating Azure File Sync Now that you finally reached your goal of setting up a Windows Server with Azure File Sync, it’s time to put the service through its paces. Create a few files in any of the directories you’ve configured to sync and notice the sync in action. You’ll see below an example of the file sync in action. ![Example of Windows Server syncing files to the Azure file share](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Azure-File-Sync-Test.gif) Example of Windows Server syncing files to the Azure file share ## Next Steps This article walked you through setting up Azure File Sync from cloud to on-premises. To deploy Azure File Sync was quite the exercise. There were lots of moving parts to configure; however, It wasn’t difficult to accomplish. You can learn more about Azure File Sync pricing and features such as Cloud Tiering, Backups and Snapshots, Security, Encryption, Authentication and more by visiting these links: * [Azure Files documentation](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/) * [Planning for an Azure Files deployment](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-files-planning?WT.mc_id=Portal-Microsoft_Azure_FileStorage#management-concepts) * [Planning for an Azure File Sync deployment](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-files-planning?WT.mc_id=Portal-Microsoft_Azure_FileStorage#management-concepts) * [Azure Files Pricing](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/storage/files/) Share this article [Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fadamtheautomator.com%2Fazure-file-sync%2F&text=Set%20Up%20Azure%20File%20Sync%3A%20Sync%20On-Prem%20Files%20to%20Azure)[Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fadamtheautomator.com%2Fazure-file-sync%2F)[Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fadamtheautomator.com%2Fazure-file-sync%2F) ## Related Posts ![](https://adamtheautomator.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/featured_image-1.webp) ### [Microsoft Azure Certification Roadmap: Choose the Right Path](/azure-certification-roadmap-2/) Choose the right Microsoft Azure certification for your career goals. 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